metro moves & municipal marijuana Zoning

By Dr. Mila K. Marshall CNW Cannabis Corner Editor

Businesses looking to call Chicago home have to get the blessing of the Zoning Board of Appeals and hold community meetings. Decriminalized marijuana seems to be dope but have Chicagoans been pushing back on bud businesses? A new PotCast is on its way to all the streaming platforms and we have dibs on the details with one of the three hosts. Finally a peek at pot in other Black metro entrepreneurs blazing trails.

A former currency exchange may become the new home for a majority Black owned dispensary, Perception Cannabis. But before the bud shop can even think about operating they need a Special Use Permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Alderperson Maria Hadden of the 49th Wardhosted a community meeting on March 14th to discuss the plans with the community. Anyone seeking such a permit is required to have at least one community meeting in the ward they are looking to do business in. Special uses are reviewed to identify “the compatibility with adjacent properties” as published on the City of Chicago website.

The Board is made up of appointed members by the mayor. Currently the ZBA is composed of Chairman Brian Sanchez, Angela Brooks, Zurich Esposito and Sam Toia, a stellar group of local influencers and leaders. It’s unknown if the newly elected mayor will keep the current ZBA or replace them with new decision makers. This month the ZBA will be deciding on only one request for a property in the 4th ward where a runoff is ensuing between Prentice Butler and Lamont Robinson. Family Roots, LLC is seeking a permit for a property at 1147 S. Wabash.

Citizens can still push back on pot! Not all precincts are welcoming to weed businesses. The 26th precinct of the 23rd ward, the 42nd precinct of the 2nd ward and the 13th precinct of the 13th ward each restrict new or additional cultivation centers, craft growers, and processing, infuser, dispensing and transporting organizations. The 2nd precinct of the 2nd ward has an active letter of intent to restrict cannabis and if accepted it will have two restricted zones. Interested parties can search for petitions at www.chicityclerk.com

A blazing hot potcast is coming from the best of the Midwest. Hosts Steven Philpott Jr., Justin Staples and Neffer Kerr are teaming up to amplify the mental health and wellness benefits of bud. “Anyone who is interested in learning more about sports, science and the culture of the cannabis industry should be listening in,” shared Kerr.

With tons of new cannabis related podcasts popping up Kerr shared what sets their conversation apart is that it’s fact based and not just opinions and personal experiences.

The Full Spectrum won’t just cover cannabis, but also other psychoactive substances.

Sponsors and community supporters include :Illinois Cannabis Training Center, Inc. - ICTC, Up Elevated Cocktails, The 1937 Group, Anzisha Consulting, NorthStar Minority Cannabis Association, and Runners High Chicago. As the industry continues to suffer from the failed attempts to decriminalize marijuana organizations and entrepreneurs need ways to keep the conversation going. Follow along and find them on IG @fullspectrumpod

Detroit Cannabis Project is holding it down for the culture making sure those impacted by the war on drugs get a fair shot at the billion dollar industry. As a technical assistance provider they are an all inclusive incubator program helping to prepare Michiganders for making green in the marijuana market.

Ladies are in a huff as regulators for New York cannabis have unintentionally created some difficulties to licensing for women. August was the launch of the program and the state awarded numerous licenses for family members convicted of marijuana charges. Round one awarded 7% of licenses to women and 14% in round 2. Be it gender or ethnicity advocates are paying attention to how regulators make it hard for some to get to the bag and entrepreneurs are pushing for fair and equitable access.

Cases where three pounds or less of marijuana are eligible for automatic expungement. But some courts are saying they are overworked as expungements of old records are pushing them to their limits. To be in compliance records for all misdemeanor marijuana offenses must be expunged by June 8th and it costs time and money to accommodate the amendment.

According to the Riverfront Times the state had cleared 7,500 records by the end of February. But records had only been removed for 60 out of the state’s 114 counties. In 2018 the state had the 11th highest marijuana possession arrest rate in America and weed possession accounted for 50 percent of all drug arrests. The state recently approved recreational sales in February of 2023 and approved nearly 70 dispensaries to operate in the St. Louis area.